Cleanup programs expanded

Columbia County's Keep America Beautiful affiliate is among those encouraging residents to "go green."

//

In its most recent effort, residents are being asked to wear green in support of recycling at the Augusta GreenJackets game Friday. Advance ticket buyers will receive a GreenJackets hat and reusable recycling bag.

"With the green movement sweeping the nation, Columbia County is getting on board with several programs focused on creating a more Earth-friendly environment for our residents," Keep Columbia County Beautiful Coordinator Jenny Hinton said.

In addition to raising awareness at Friday's GreenJackets game, KCCB is expanding the county's recycling program and initiating a Clean Community Challenge in conjunction with the Anti-Litter Campaign.

"The current recycling program only accepts newspaper and aluminum cans at select locations," Hinton said. "With the expansion of this program, not only will more commodities be accepted, but a convenience drop-off center will be constructed on Chamblin Road to allow for one-stop shopping. This staffed center will accept newspaper, plastics, glass, cardboard and electronics, with more items being accepted as the program continues to grow."

Hinton said the Clean Community Challenge is a program initiated by the governor's office in which local governments are encouraged to develop a comprehensive approach to litter prevention. A focus group of 10 to 15 residents is being formed, with its primary goal being to target problem litter areas. The group will address the problems through education, enforcement and eradication.

Earlier this summer, KCCB received a grant from the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, which included $1,500 for advertisements aimed at eradicating cigarette litter and for the purchase of additional cigarette receptacles for government campuses.

Hinton said the county also was awarded 1,000 pocket ashtrays through the grant. They are free to anyone interested and can be picked up at the Community and Leisure Services office.

Among KCCB's other green efforts are phone book disposal sites and an annual Christmas tree recycling program. Keep Columbia County Beautiful also participates in Arbor Day and Earth Day celebrations and sponsors an electronics recycling program each March and September, plus Great American Cleanup events in the spring.

"The Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Stream programs encourage year-round participation in keeping Columbia County's roads and streams clean," Hinton said. "These programs are open to any individual, family, civic, business or church group residing within Columbia County."

Hinton said all of KCCB's programs are important as the county works to protect the environment.

"They provide awareness and education and opportunities for everyone to do their part," she said. "Keep Columbia County Beautiful will continue to expand the existing programs as well as introduce more programs in the future to assist in achieving our goal of keeping Columbia County clean and beautiful."

People interested in learning more should call Hinton at (706) 312-7195 or e-mail jhinton@columbiacountyga.gov.